I'll also say that I am shocked that so many women's teams think that constantly going 2 up is the way to win. So few women have good overheads where they can take a couple steps back and still attack a ball so it just seems to be playing into the opponents hands to rush the net like that. BUt then again for many 4.0 women I know they were so traumatized by the lobbing at 3.0 and 3.5 that they don't want to be that kind of player so they don't utilize the lob as often as they should.

Two points: at the 4.0 level, the players who are on the cusp of moving up to 4.5 invariably have stronger service and net games, fewer unforced errors. The players who are on the lower end of the ratings scale have weaker service and net games, make more unforced errors. Good net play is about setting up the point with a forcing approach shot, gaining favorable position, putting away the return with a volley or overhead. On average, with teams closely matched in ability, the team that first gains net position will win the majority of points.

"Two up" is not necessarily a dominant net position. Ideally, both partners should gain position at the service line, and only approach closer to the net on a high, weak shot. When one partner closes the net, the other should stay at the service line to cover lobs. This strategy is the subject of many advanced doubles drills. Many 3.5 and 4.0 players camp out too close to the net, and are then vulnerable to lobs. When I practice with my USTA partner, I always do volley drills from the service line, not from a few feet from the net. It's actually easier to keep a volleyed return deep from a mid-court position than from closer to the net. The mark of a good net player is someone who is steady as a rock from mid-court, but agile and aggressive enough to close on short, weak shots, and put them away for winners.

I agree with Cindy's points about women's doubles. When I watch women's 4.0 level matches, the pattern of play is much different than men's 4.0 level matches. Womens' serves are not as powerful, so good service returns are more effective. Womens' overheads are not as powerful, so they can't punish lob returns for winners. Both of these factors tend to shape the play, discourage a serve/volley playing pattern. In some ways, I think women are better volleyers, as they tend to hit more angled volleys for winners, where men will try to blast their volleys.

Take this for what its worth- but on our team that plays around 4.0 (in ALTA the levels work differently) NO ONE wants to play with the guys who just sit back and try to win it from the baseline. They all want partners who are active at the net and who will put the ball away when given the opportunity.

+1.

4.0 doubles players detest playing with a partner who cannot play the net well.

Geez, I see it again and again. A woman is 3.5. Because a lot of other 3.5s do not take the net against her, she figures her own net game is OK. She never learns to volley, she never learns to transition, she never learns an offensive lob.

Then she gets bumped to 4.0. Now her opponents take the net, and many have 4.0-level overheads and volleys when they get there. She gets pinned in the back corner when serving and receiving, desperately trying to scoop up sliced approach shots and volleys. This goes on for two sets until we lose.

It is straight up impossible to win 4.0 doubles with a partner like this.

If you're at 3.5, work on learning the shots needed to get to net. You're gonna need them.